Refrigeration – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-17
2001-03-20
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Combined
C062S114000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202435
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an explosion preventing device for a refrigerating machine using a flammable refrigerant.
BACKGROUND ART
It is said that an HCFC-based refrigerant represented by R22 presently utilized in an air conditioner destroys an ozone layer due to the stability of physical properties thereof.
In recent years, an HFC-based refrigerant has been started to be utilized as a substitute for the HCFC-based refrigerant. However, the HFC-based refrigerant has a nature that it promotes the global warming phenomenon.
Therefore, recently, the employment of an HC-based refrigerant which does not cause the destruction of the ozone layer and the global warming phenomenon is being examined.
However, this HC-based refrigerant is flammable and hence, it is necessary to previously prevent the explosion and ignition of the HC-based refrigerant and to ensure the safety.
Therefore, there are proposed methods for previously preventing the explosion and ignition of the HC-based refrigerant, wherein the igniting source is eliminated or isolated, or placed remotely (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos.7-55267 and 8-61702).
In the methods in which the igniting source is eliminated, it has been proposed that a non-contact relay generating no spark is used, ora contact portion is sealed. With this method, however, the part or component used is limited, but also it is difficult to completely eliminate sparks in all the parts or a control section.
In the methods in which such part or component are isolated from a place where there is a possibility that the refrigerant may be leaked. In the methods in which the igniting source is placed remotely, it has been proposed that a part accommodating box is placed in an outdoor unit of the air conditioner, or outside a housing of a refrigerator. However, such methods brings about a disadvantage in a respect of space, but also possibly causes an electric leakage or a short-circuit due to the leading-about of wires.
Accordingly, the present invention has been accomplished by paying an attention to the fact that even if a flammable gas is ignited, the flames are not propagated, if flat plates are spaced at a certain distance or less apart from each other, and it is an object of the present invention to ensure that even if the ignition occurs due to the generation of sparks or the like, the flames are prevented from being propagated, thereby preventing the occurrence of the serious explosion or fire.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, according to claim
1
of the present invention, there is provided an explosion preventing device for a refrigerating machine using a flammable refrigerant, comprising a mesh member which covers a relay for controlling the operation and the stoppage of a compressor or an air blower, or a part or component or a control section, which may generate electric sparks, the mesh member having a mesh size equal to or smaller than a quenching distance for the flammable refrigerant used. By covering the part or the like which may generate the sparks, with the mesh member having the mesh size equal to or smaller than the quenching distance, as described above, even if the sparks are generated to produce flames when the refrigerant is leaked, the flames cannot be propagated out of the mesh member. Therefore, even if the sparks are generated when the refrigerant is leaked, they cannot cause a serious explosion and fire.
According to claim
2
of the present invention, there is provided an explosion preventing device for a refrigerating machine using a flammable refrigerant, comprising an accommodating member which covers a relay for controlling the operation and the stoppage of a compressor or an air blower, or a part or component or a control section, which may generate electric sparks, a portion of the accommodating member being formed from a mesh member which has a mesh size equal to or smaller than a quenching distance for the flammable refrigerant used. By using the mesh member for a portion of the accommodating member, as described above, the part or the like covered with the accommodating member can be cooled. Even if electric sparks are generated within the accommodating member to produce an explosion, when the refrigerant is leaked, the sudden expansion of a gas within the accommodating member can be released to the outside by the mesh member. Therefore, the accommodating member can be prevented from being broken, and flames cannot be propagated to the outside of the accommodating member. Thus, even if the sparks are generated when the refrigerant is leaked, a serious explosion or fire cannot be caused.
According to claim
3
of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim
1
or
2
, the flammable refrigerant used is propane or isobutane, and the mesh size of the mesh member is equal to or smaller than 2 mm. By using the mesh member having the mesh size equal to or smaller than 2 mm, flames can be prevented from being propagated.
According to claim
4
of the present invention, there is provided an explosion preventing device for a refrigerating machine using a flammable refrigerant, comprising a punched member which covers a relay for controlling the operation and the stoppage of a compressor or an air blower, or a part or component or a control section, which may generate electric sparks, the punched member having punched holes whose size is equal to or smaller than a quenching diameter for the flammable refrigerant used. By covering the part or the like which may generate electric sparks, with the punched member having the punched holes whose size is equal to or smaller than the quenching diameter, as described above, even if the sparks are generated to produce flames, when the refrigerant is leaked, the flames can be prevented from being propagated. Thus, even if the sparks are generated when the refrigerant is leaked, a serious explosion or fire cannot be caused.
According to claim
5
of the present invention, there is provided an explosion preventing device for a refrigerating machine using a flammable refrigerant, comprising an accommodating member which covers a relay for controlling the operation and the stoppage of a compressor or an air blower, or a part or component or a control section, which may generate electric sparks, a portion of the accommodating member being formed from a punched member having punched holes whose size is equal to or smaller than a quenching diameter for the flammable refrigerant used. By using the punched member for a portion of the accommodating member, as described above, the part or the like can be covered with the accommodating member. Even if electric sparks are generated within the accommodating member to produce an explosion, when the refrigerant is leaked, the sudden expansion of a gas within the accommodating member can be released to the outside by the punched member. Therefore, the accommodating member can be prevented from being broken, and the flames cannot be propagated to the outside of the accommodating member. Thus, even if the sparks are generated when the refrigerant is leaked, a serious explosion or fire cannot be caused.
According to claim
6
of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim
4
or
5
, the flammable refrigerant used is propane, and the diameter of the punched holes in the punched member is equal to or smaller than 3 mm. By using the punched member having the punched holes whose size is equal to or smaller than 3 mm, as described above, the flames of the propane cannot be propagated.
According to claim
7
of the present invention, there is provided an explosion preventing device, comprising a mesh member or a punched member which is used in or around a relay for controlling the operation and stoppage of a compressor or an air blower, a part or component or a control section which may generate electric sparks, thereby preventing the propagation of flames. By utilizing the mesh member or the punched member, as described above, even if electric sparks ar
Fujitaka Akira
Kobayashi Yoshinori
Armstrong, Westerman Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
Matsushita Electric Inductrial Co., Ltd.
Tapolcai William E.
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